Recent State Actions Related to Immigrants’ Access to Services and Immigration Enforcement Authors: Akash Pillai, Drishti Pillai, and Samantha Artiga Published: Jun 16, 2026

https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/recent-state-actions-related-to-immigrants-access-to-services-and-immigration-enforcement/ During the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions, states enacted or proposed a range of legislation that will impact immigrants’ access to state-funded health coverage and other services as well as actions related to how states may enhance or limit federal enforcement activities. Several states have rolled back or plan to scale back state-funded health coverage programs for immigrants to reduce budget deficits amid economic uncertainties. Some states have also enacted laws to support the Trump administration’s increased interior immigration enforcement activities, including sharing data from Medicaid or other state agencies with federal enforcement officials. In contrast, some states are expanding access to health coverage or other benefits for immigrants, including lawfully present immigrants losing eligibility for federally funded health coverage under the 2025 reconciliation law, and/or enhancing protections for immigrants. While some states are seeking to enhance protections for immigrants, the Trump administration signed an executive order directing federal agencies to suspend federal grants and contracts with states or local jurisdictions identified as obstructing enforcement of federal immigration laws, or “sanctuary jurisdictions.” So far federal challenges to state and local sanctuary jurisdictions have largely failed. However, the federal stance may limit state or local actions.